Easter may be best known for its association with eggs, but it’s also the third-biggest wine holiday on the calendar, trailing only Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tom Steffanci, president of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, said the industry will be closely watching Millennial tastes this Easter season, now that the generation accounts for slightly over 40% of all wine consumed in the U.S., including low-lux wines.

Fun fact:

Easter is the third largest wine holiday, behind Thanksgiving and Christmas.

One of the best parts about Easter is the delicious desserts – today we will show you some great wine and spirits that complement some of the most popular Easter desserts.

Wine and food pairing reminder:

Wine and food is meant to be enjoyed together. Wine enhances the food you eat, and food enhances the wine you’re drinking so we really view wine as an integral part of the food experience

To get the full enjoyment of a wine and food pairing, you’ll want to taste the wine first, then taste the food, then appreciate the wine again. You’ll notice how the wine flavors and texture changes with the influence of the food.

Wines for Your Easter Desserts: Pairings

Dark chocolate bunnies

Why this pairing: With dark chocolate, you want a red wine that can stand up to the chocolate. The dried red fruits in this Josh Cellars Legacy red blend pair perfectly with those dark chocolate bunnies. The tannins found in the wine interact with the natural fats found in chocolate. Rich, creamy dark chocolate like the bunnies will diminish the perception of tannins and make a full-bodied wine like Josh Cellars Legacy seem silkier. This opens the door for you to taste additional subtle flavors of plum, coffee and vanilla that may have been less prominent before.

St. Joseph – pastry with a Custard cream

Why this pairing: The bright acidity found in Barone Fini Pinot Grigio contrasts with the custard cream’s richness to show off the delicate fruit flavors of citrus, honeydew and apple. This results in making the wine feel softer and rounder in your mouth.

Pizza Rustica – Pie made with eggs, cheese and meat

Why this pairing: This is a savory option and is a take on a pizza, so you want to pair with a wine that goes well with pizza. A light red like Villa Pozzi Nero d’Avola is perfect. The lightly salted ham and cheese softens the tannins and accentuates the cherry flavors. As a result the Villa Pozzi Nero d’Avola presents a longer finish and allows you to taste all the layered spice notes that may have only been revealed with additional aging.

And finally, a different pairing. Desserts are not just for wine, they work great with spirits too. People may not naturally think of a rye whiskey for an Easter Sunday, but this is a great way to experience Rye, simply on the rocks.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Why this pairing: The sweet and citrusy notes in the pie is a natural and interesting pairing with Redemption Rye Whiskey. The lemon meringue pie crust will soften those initial spices found on the first sip. This allows you to taste the delicate citrus notes found in both the Redemption Rye and the lemon meringue. The finish will complete the vanilla and almond notes you find in both the Redemption and the marzipan in the lemon meringue.